Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Stumping the Shark

Summary

Wow in the World Podcast Summary

Episode: Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Stumping the Shark
Date: April 10, 2026
Hosts: Mindy Thomas & Guy Raz
Theme: Shark Science – Surprising Facts About Sharks!

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Episode Overview

In this installment of "Two Whats?! And A Wow!", Mindy and Guy Raz dive into the jaws of shark science! Through three game rounds, the hosts challenge listeners’ knowledge with wacky and wild shark facts—only one in each round is a true scientific "wow", and the rest are goofy red herrings. The energy is high, the jokes are plentiful, and the guests (young, enthusiastic listeners) are ready to stump even the sharpest shark! The episode is filled with interactive challenges, memorable laughs, and fascinating discoveries made extra engaging for kids and families.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

How the Game Works

• Each round features three statements about sharks:
  • 1 is the mind-blowing "wow" (true).
  • 2 are made-up "whats".
• If you guess correctly, you win a point!
• If incorrect, you have to do a silly physical challenge (e.g., swim away from an invisible shark).

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Round 1: Shark Stomachs

(02:51–04:49)

• A: Sharks make great pets.
• B: Most sharks can see twice the colors humans can.
• C: Some sharks can turn their stomachs inside out.

Winning Wow:

• C is true! Some sharks turn their stomachs inside out, rinse them in seawater, and pull them back in.
• Quote [Harper, 03:49]:

  "My wow is that some sharks can turn their stomach inside out, wash it with seawater, and tug it back in.”

• Why?
  • Sharks often swallow food whole, leftovers (like bones) they can’t digest build up.
  • Ejecting and rinsing the stomach keeps them healthy!
  • Mindy [04:13]:

    “Even though sharks have lots of teeth, a lot of species end up swallowing their food whole or in large pieces… So to get rid of the waste, some sharks can actually force their stomachs out of their mouths. The sharks give their stomachs a quick rinse in seawater and then pull them back into place.”

If you missed it:

• Challenge: "Swim away from a giant invisible shark!"
• [04:51]

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Round 2: Sharks on the Move

(04:51–06:49)

• A: Megamouth hammerhead sharks don't have large mouths.
• B: Epaulette sharks can swim and walk at low tide.
• C: Hammerheads use their heads for undersea carpentry (!?).

Winning Wow:

• B is correct! Epaulette sharks can "walk" on the seafloor, and even survive on dry land for up to an hour.
• Quote [Asher, 05:56]:

  "My wow in the world is that epaulette sharks can swim and walk at low tide."

• Details:
  • Muscular, round fins double as “legs” for crawling on coral.
  • Slow breathing/heart rate let them survive out of water.
  • Guy Raz [06:37]:

    “Epaulette sharks can even walk on land during low tide. They slow down their breathing and heart rate, which allows them to survive without water for up to an hour.”

If you missed it:

• Challenge: "Run around on your fins!"
• [06:49]

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Round 3: Goblin Shark Attack!

(06:58–08:49)

• A: Silvertip sharks swim faster than cheetahs can run.
• B: Goblin sharks use extendable jaws to catch prey.
• C: Tiger sharks are actually tigers that just love swimming (ha!).

Winning Wow:

• B is true! Goblin sharks have extendable jaws that shoot forward to snatch prey at lightning speed.
• Quote [Legend, 07:55]:

  “My wow is that there’s a type of shark called a goblin shark and it has extending jaws to snatch its prey.”

• Fun Fact:
  • Goblin shark jaws extend at 10 feet per second—the fastest in the sea.
  • Guy Raz [08:35]:

    “Goblin sharks can extend their entire jaws to catch their prey and the speed of their bite is 10ft per second, which means they have the fastest jaws in the whole ocean.”

If you missed it:

• Challenge: "Spin around like a sharknado!"
• [08:49]

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Bonker Balls Bonus Round

(11:07–12:19)

• Bonus Wow Topic: What sound scares animals most in Africa (besides human voices)?
  • A: Baby’s scream & jet engine
  • B: Dennis’s trombone & tambourine combo (oh my!)
  • C: Lion’s growl & dog’s barking (Correct)

Answer:

• C is correct! Researchers found animals were most afraid of human voices, but also tested lion growls, dog barks, and bird sounds.
• Mindy [12:02]:

  “If you answered C, you are correct... they also saw how [animals] reacted to lions growling, dogs barking and local bird sounds.”

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Memorable Quotes & Light Moments

• Reggie’s comic relief and musical cues
• Mindy [03:15]:

  “When you think you have the correct answer, yell, ‘We’re gonna need a bigger boat!’”

• Running gags:
  • Silly round-ending challenges (“stop, drop, and...”)
  • Mindy and Guy’s playful banter:
    • Guy Raz [13:33]:

      “Wow. That’s actually a pretty great prize. Are we taking everyone to the Great Barrier Reef or the Galapagos Islands?”

      • Mindy: “Oh no, Guy Raz. We’re gonna do it right here. Put on your scuba masks, everyone.”

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Notable Timestamps

• 01:54: Start of the game show
• 02:51–04:49: Round 1 (Shark Stomachs)
• 04:51–06:49: Round 2 (Epaulette Shark)
• 06:58–08:49: Round 3 (Goblin Shark)
• 11:07–12:19: Bonker Balls Bonus Round
• 13:16: Prizes & Membership Info

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Takeaway for Listeners

The episode is a delightful dive into shark science, mixing genuine wow-worthy biology with laugh-out-loud humor and interactivity perfect for kids and families. The game-show style, relatable explanations, and memorable guest appearances ensure listeners will walk away with a trove of fun shark facts—and plenty of reasons to say, “Wow!”

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Further Engagement

• Stay tuned: New episodes every Monday, plus more games and bonus shows each week.
• Get involved: Kids can send their own "wow" facts, and grownups can learn more or join the World Organization of Wowzers for extra activities at tinkercast.com.

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Final Sendoff:

“Until then, keep on wowing!” – Mindy & Guy Raz

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Transcript

[Mindy Thomas]

Hey, Wowzer fams. Mindy here. And before we start the show. Oh, sorry about that. I forgot to put it on silent. Hey, wait a second. It's an email from us. Check it out, Reg. Let's see here. It says we've got episode recommendations, free STEM activities to try out at home. The latest news about what's happening at Tinkercast. Pretty bonker balls, huh? Here, I'll help you sign up and the grown ups will just go to tinkercast.comemail and put in your first and last names and email address. Wait, Reggie, I just realized I don't know your last name. Really? Is that with a silent G or a silent Q? Huh, who knew? Let's see here. Oh, and you're not a robot, right? Sorry, just had to double check. Okay, you are all signed up grown ups. You can sign up for our Tinkercast newsletter too. It's full of ideas on how to get some extra wow to your family's life. Visit tinkercast.comemail to sign up today. That's tinkercast.comemail. that's it. And now let's get on with the show.

[Guy Raz]

And now for everyone's second favorite game show after Blobfish Makeover, it's two what's and the wow.

[Reggie]

With your hosts, Mindy and Guy Rall's two what? Two what's two what? Two what's 2 what? Two what's and a whoa.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hello and welcome to two what's in a wow.

[Reggie]

Two what's in a wow.

[Guy Raz]

The scientific game show that separates the W from the what. And the category or theme for today is.

[Reggie]

Sharks.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, why don't you refresh our contestants on how the game works?

[Mindy Thomas]

You know it. Wowzers. In each of our three rounds today, Guy, Raz and I will present you with three scientific statements about sharks. But. And this is a big but. Only one of those statements will be a true wow. The other two, just a couple of made up whats.

[Guy Raz]

Now, in each round, if you guess correctly, well, congratulations, you win a point.

[Mindy Thomas]

But if you guess incorrectly, you must stop, drop, and do a ridiculous physical challenge.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, everyone ready to start the game?

[Reggie]

Great.

[Mindy Thomas]

Then let's do it.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, round one. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A, sharks make great pets?

[Reggie]

Babies?

[Mindy Thomas]

Or is it B, most sharks can see twice the colors that humans can.

[Guy Raz]

Or is it C? Some sharks can turn their stomachs inside out.

[Mindy Thomas]

When you think you have the correct answer, yell, we're gonna need a bigger boat. Hey, Reggie, cue the thinking.

[Guy Raz]

And time is up. Let's now reveal the winning wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

And to do just that, it's Harper from Colorado. Harper from Colorado, tell us what's the winning wow.

[Contestants (Harper, Asher, Legend)]

Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. My wow is that some sharks can turn their stomach inside out, wash it with seawater, and tug it back in.

[Mindy Thomas]

Winner, winner, seawater for dinner.

[Guy Raz]

Thank you, Harper. Contestants, if you guessed the answer C that some sharks can turn their stomachs inside out, well, congratulations. You found the winning wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Even though sharks have lots of teeth, a lot of species end up swallowing their food whole or in large pieces. And because of this, sharks end up with a lot of large bones and other things that they can't digest in their stomachs.

[Guy Raz]

So to get rid of the waste, some sharks can actually force their stomachs out of their mouths. The sharks give their stomachs a quick rinse in seawater and then pull them back into place.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop, and swim away from a giant invisible shark.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, time for round two. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A, megamouth hammerhead sharks actually don't have large mouths?

[Mindy Thomas]

Or is it B, epaulette sharks can swim and walk at low tide?

[Guy Raz]

Or is it sea hammerhead sharks use their heads for undersea carpentry?

[Mindy Thomas]

When you think you have the correct answer, yell dunna dunna da na da na da na. Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna,

[Reggie]

Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, can we keep going with the show, please?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, wait, sorry.

[Guy Raz]

And time is up. And joining us by phone, it's Asher from New York with the winning wow. Asher, please reveal the answer.

[Contestants (Harper, Asher, Legend)]

Hi, Mindy and Guy Raj. My wow in the world is that the Eelette sharks can swim and walk at low tide.

[Mindy Thomas]

Winner, winner, surf and turf for dinner.

[Guy Raz]

That's right, Asher Wowzers. If you guessed B that epaulette sharks can swim and walk at low tide, well, congratulations. You found the winning wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Epaulette sharks can swim just like their little sharky relatives, but they can also walk. They have round, muscular fins that they can use like legs. This essentially lets them walk on the seafloor and navigate around coral.

[Guy Raz]

Epaulette sharks can even walk on land during low tide. They slow down their breathing and heart rate, which allows them to survive without water for up to an hour.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop, and run around on your fins.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, time for round three. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it a. Silvertip sharks can swim Faster than cheetahs can run.

[Mindy Thomas]

Or is it B, goblin sharks use extendable jaws to catch their prey.

[Guy Raz]

Or is it C. Tiger sharks are actually tigers that just really like swimming.

[Mindy Thomas]

When you think you have the correct answer, yell shark it to me.

[Reggie]

Thinking.

[Mindy Thomas]

Music, please.

[Guy Raz]

And time is up. Let's now reveal the winning wow. And joining us by phone, it's Legend from California. Legend. What's the wow?

[Contestants (Harper, Asher, Legend)]

Hi, it's Mindy and Guy Raz. My wow is that there's a type of shark called a goblin shark and it has extending jaws to snatch its prey.

[Mindy Thomas]

Winner, winner, shark bait for dinner.

[Guy Raz]

That's right, Legend Wowzers. If you guessed B that goblin sharks use excess extendable jaws to catch their prey, well, congratulations. You found the winning wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Goblin sharks are deep sea creatures with some serious chompers. They hunt fish, squid and crustaceans and have a unique way of catching them.

[Guy Raz]

Goblin sharks can extend their entire jaws to catch their prey and the speed of their bite is 10ft per second, which means they have the fastest jaws in the whole ocean.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop, and spin around like a sharknado. And now it's time to take a moment to thank our sponsors. Today's show is brought to you in part by filter feeding. Is chewing too much work for you? Do you love krill? Well, then try filter feeding. It's easy. Just swim around with your mouth open, collect tiny prey in your gaping maw, then push the seawater right back out. Join the school of happy customers like whale sharks and basking sharks, and start filter feeding today. Yes, Filter.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, thank you, Filter Feeding. Now let's take a quick break and hear some other important messages for grownups

[Mindy Thomas]

to once in a while. We'll be right back.

[Reggie]

Grown ups.

[Mindy Thomas]

This message is for you.

[Guy Raz]

Hey, Wowzer fams, Guy Raz and Mindy here. And before we start the show, happy

[Mindy Thomas]

Earth Day to you.

[Guy Raz]

Happy Earth Day to you. Happy Earth Day, dear Wowzers.

[Mindy Thomas]

Happy Earth Day to you.

[Guy Raz]

If you're looking for ways to celebrate our Earth today and every day, visit tinkercast.comearth to find activities, episodes and videos that bring the wows of the world right to you.

[Mindy Thomas]

And while you're at it, don't forget to show your gratitude to the Earth today. It does a pretty good job of taking care of all of us, so let's all remember to take care of it too.

[Guy Raz]

That's it. Now let's get back to the show.

[Mindy Thomas]

That's it. Now back to the show.

[Guy Raz]

Welcome back to 2 what's and a wow.

[Reggie]

2 what's and a wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

The scientific game show that separates the wows from the whats.

[Guy Raz]

What was that?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, Guy Raz, that sound can mean only one thing.

[Guy Raz]

My package has arrived.

[Reggie]

No.

[Mindy Thomas]

Woo. It's time for today's Bonker Balls bonus round. If you listened to our wow in the World episode titled wow in the Wild, you'll know the answer to this one. Turns out that animals are more afraid of the human voice than almost any other sound. Researchers in South Africa found that most animals fled almost immediately upon hearing a human voice. So what other two scary sounds did the researchers test out on these African animals?

[Guy Raz]

Was it A, a baby's scream? A jet engine?

[Mindy Thomas]

Or was it B, Dennis's trombone and tambourine combo?

[Guy Raz]

Or was it C, a lion's growl and dog's barking? And with the answer to today's Bonkerballs bonus question, it's Reggie.

[Mindy Thomas]

Reggie, tell us, what's the winning wow? If you answered C, you are correct. In addition to testing out animals reactions to to human voices, they also saw how they reacted to lions growling, dogs barking and local bird sounds.

[Guy Raz]

Well, congratulations to all of our winning Wowzers. Mindy, what's today's prize?

[Mindy Thomas]

Guy Raz. Today's winning wowzers will all receive their very own deep sea diving experience.

[Guy Raz]

Wow. That's actually a pretty great prize. Are we taking everyone to the Great Barrier Reef or the Galapagos Islands?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh no, Guy Raz. We're gonna do it right here. Put on your scuba masks, everyone.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, what?

[Mindy Thomas]

Reggie, cue the prize cannon.

[Reggie]

Fire away.

[Mindy Thomas]

No.

[Reggie]

Woo.

[Mindy Thomas]

Check out the deep sea majesty. Behold the mighty kelp forest. Yeah.

[Guy Raz]

Well, that's about all the time we have for today. But if you want to keep the fun going, then become a member of the world organization of wowzers and unlock hundreds of activities.

[Mindy Thomas]

And for any teachers in our listening audience, consider joining tinkerclass, our free brand new learning platform that helps get kids wild about Science. Just visit Tinkercast.com membership, that's Tinkercast.com membership and be sure to come back on Monday for a brand new episode of wow in the world. This weekend for some wee wow in the Weeknd with Dennis.

[Guy Raz]

And again on Friday for a new episode of Two what's and a wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Until then, keep on wowing.

[Reggie]

Two what's Two what? Two what's Two what? Two, what's and a Wow.

[Guy Raz]

2 what's in a wow is executive produced by Meredith Halpert, Ranzer, Mindy Thomas and me, Guy Raz.

[Mindy Thomas]

Our writers are Ruth Morrison and Anna Zagorski with collaboration from our head writer Kenny Curtis.

[Guy Raz]

Sound production and design is by Marion Lozano with help from Jett Anderson and Tyler Thol.

[Mindy Thomas]

Special thanks to Rebecca Caban, Dr. Natasha Crandall, Lizzie Freylich, Kristin Yang, Twi Mac, Erica Medina, Henry Moskal, Jody Nussbaum, Ali Paxima, Linda Rothenberg, Steph Sosa, Joanna Weber, Anna Zagorski and all of the other Tinkerers at Tinkercast hq.

[Guy Raz]

Our theme song was written and composed by the Pop Ups. For more on their three time Grammy nominated all ages music, find [e-mail] and

[Mindy Thomas]

to keep the wow rolling. After you finish this episode you can Visit [e-mail] There you can become a member of the World Organization of wowzers to get year round mailings and weekly activities. Shop our wow Shop, get tickets for upcoming events, find our best selling books and learn all about the other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast Grown ups.

[Guy Raz]

You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter owintheworld and our email address is helloinkercast.

[Mindy Thomas]

Finally, if you're a kid with a big WOW to share, it could be used on an upcoming episode of 2 what's in a wow? Call us at 1-888-7-WOW. Wow.

[Guy Raz]

Thanks again for listening and playing along. Meet us back here next Friday or every Monday for Wow in the World.

[Reggie]

Wow in the World wow in the World Wow in the World Wow in the World Wow in the World was

[Mindy Thomas]

made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.